Eric Degganshttp://kasu.org
enIn The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night Historyhttp://kasu.org/post/writers-room-robin-thede-quietly-makes-late-night-history
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDK8Vt8Ng9Y</p>Sun, 12 Jul 2015 09:53:00 +0000Eric Deggans61713 at http://kasu.orgIn The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night HistoryUSA's 'Mr. Robot,' HBO's 'Ballers' Among Picks For Best Summer TV Series http://kasu.org/post/usas-mr-robot-hbos-ballers-among-picks-best-summer-tv-series
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJNZF3LR0VM</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FJQpK6EVTk</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpkxL9hb1Pw</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXnKuP_6R9k</p>Wed, 01 Jul 2015 09:47:00 +0000Eric Deggans61288 at http://kasu.orgUSA's 'Mr. Robot,' HBO's 'Ballers' Among Picks For Best Summer TV Series NBC Dumps Donald Trump Over Comments On Mexican Immigrantshttp://kasu.org/post/nbc-dumps-donald-trump-over-comments-mexican-immigrants
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=NBC+Dumps+Donald+Trump+Over+Comments+On+Mexican+Immigrants&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAyMTQyNzY5MDEyNzEzNTYyNDliZTBiOA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: <p>NBC is done with Donald Trump. The network has severed its ties with the billionaire following controversial remarks about Mexicans. He made those when he announced that he's running for president.Mon, 29 Jun 2015 20:29:00 +0000Eric Deggans61221 at http://kasu.orgWhy Isn't The Second Season Of 'True Detective' More Surprising?http://kasu.org/post/why-isnt-second-season-true-detective-more-surprising
<em>(Be warned: This story has lots of spoiler-ish details about True Detectives' first few new episodes) </em><p>As I watched the first three episodes from HBO's new season of <em>True Detective</em>, one thought kept nagging: Why isn't this more, well, surprising?<p>Consider this scene, featuring Colin Farrell as Ray Velcoro, a police officer whose wife has been beaten and raped. Vince Vaughn is Frank Semyon, a crime boss who slips Farrell's character a picture of the possible culprit.<p>"Fits the description, right?" Vaughn's Semyon asks. "My people know him. He's not with us.Fri, 19 Jun 2015 09:03:00 +0000Eric Deggans60788 at http://kasu.orgWhy Isn't The Second Season Of 'True Detective' More Surprising?4 Ways NBC Might Rehabilitate Brian Williams' Imagehttp://kasu.org/post/4-suggestions-how-nbc-might-rehabilitate-brian-williams-image
NBC has <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/18/415519389/its-official-brian-williams-out-as-nbc-nightly-news-anchor">worked out a deal</a> to keep tarnished news anchor Brian Williams at the company, sending him to MSNBC to serve as anchor of breaking news and special reports.<p>But this brings a new question: How, exactly, can NBC get viewers to trust him again?<p>Williams has experienced perhaps the quickest fall in the history of TV journalism.Thu, 18 Jun 2015 18:37:00 +0000Eric Deggans60768 at http://kasu.org4 Ways NBC Might Rehabilitate Brian Williams' ImageAmazon's 'Catastrophe' Isn't One — Unlike Some TV Rom-Comshttp://kasu.org/post/amazons-catastrophe-isnt-one-unlike-some-tv-rom-coms
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfccan1k2_4</p>Tue, 16 Jun 2015 20:30:00 +0000Eric Deggans60685 at http://kasu.orgAmazon's 'Catastrophe' Isn't One — Unlike Some TV Rom-ComsA Good But Not Great New Season For Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black'http://kasu.org/post/good-not-great-new-season-netflixs-orange-new-black
The third season of <em>Orange Is the New Black</em> begins with middle-class slacker-turned-prison inmate Piper Chapman in a pretty dark place.<p>How can we tell? She's having a casual conversation about suicide with the prison's electrician. And when she suggests using pills instead of car exhaust in a garage, the electrician dismisses her for choosing a way out that's way too expensive.<p>"I didn't realize that my hypothetical suicide had a budget," Piper says, sarcastically. A moment later, she realizes, "this is not a healthy discussion."<p>Maybe not.Fri, 12 Jun 2015 09:03:00 +0000Eric Deggans60507 at http://kasu.orgA Good But Not Great New Season For Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black'Do Critics Of Violence And Sex In HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' Miss The Point? http://kasu.org/post/do-critics-violence-and-sex-hbos-game-thrones-miss-point
This is dangerous ground for a critic who has seen every episode of HBO's sword and dragon-fueled fantasy drama <em>Game of Thrones</em> but hasn't read one page of the books by George R.R.Thu, 11 Jun 2015 19:25:00 +0000Eric Deggans60480 at http://kasu.orgDo Critics Of Violence And Sex In HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' Miss The Point? Racial Diversity Grows On Network Television, But Will Quality Lag Behind?http://kasu.org/post/racial-diversity-grows-network-television-will-quality-lag-behind
The moment comes a minute or so into the trailer for <em>Dr. Ken,</em> <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/12/385740978/community-actor-ken-jeong-might-be-getting-his-own-show" target="_blank">Ken Jeong's new fall comedy</a> for ABC.<p>He's playing a Korean-American doctor with no bedside manners and a wacky family; not a bad setup for a sitcom that will straddle the work/family setting.Sun, 31 May 2015 14:17:00 +0000Eric Deggans60033 at http://kasu.orgRacial Diversity Grows On Network Television, But Will Quality Lag Behind?CBS' Bob Schieffer Retires Sunday As Last Of The Old-School TV Anchorshttp://kasu.org/post/cbs-bob-schieffer-retires-sunday-last-old-school-tv-anchors
No one can ask a tough question quite like Bob Schieffer.<p>For example, when he asked then-presidential candidate John Edwards: "It appears that the White House strategy will be to picture you as a pretty boy....A lightweight...Does that bother you?"<p>Cue nervous laughter from a candidate who became known for paying $400 to get a haircut.<p>Or when Schieffer queried U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz about the 2013 government shutdown, asking: "You became a celebrity when you led the drive to shut down the government over Obamacare.Fri, 29 May 2015 23:55:00 +0000Eric Deggans59997 at http://kasu.orgCBS' Bob Schieffer Retires Sunday As Last Of The Old-School TV AnchorsLetterman Leaves Late-Night TV With A Near-Perfect Final Showhttp://kasu.org/post/david-letterman-leaves-late-night-tv-near-perfect-final-show
When the final episode came, after weeks of accolades and tributes to his genius, David Letterman made sure he punctured the emotion of the moment with a little old-fashioned, self-deprecating sarcasm.<p>"We've done over 6,000 shows ... and I was here for most of them, and I can tell you a pretty high percentage of those shows just absolutely sucked," Letterman told the audience during Wednesday night's <em>Late Show</em> episode, his last after 33 years in late-night television.Thu, 21 May 2015 11:15:00 +0000Eric Deggans59658 at http://kasu.orgLetterman Leaves Late-Night TV With A Near-Perfect Final Show'Mad Men' Finale: A Love Letter To Fans Filled With Mostly Happy Endings http://kasu.org/post/mad-men-finale-love-letter-fans-filled-mostly-happy-endings
From the beginnings of the <em>Mad Men</em> phenomenon, many of the show's fans wondered if superstar adman Don Draper was destined to write one of the iconic advertising catchphrases of the time.<p>So it's a testament to the skills of show creator Matthew Weiner that some regular viewers were still surprised by the show's series finale Sunday, which implies that Don invented the classic 1971 Coca-Cola campaign, "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke." This, after he concluded a long, soul-searching trip through America with a trip to a California yoga retreat.<p>Like many of the developments in <eMon, 18 May 2015 11:15:00 +0000Eric Deggans59528 at http://kasu.org'Mad Men' Finale: A Love Letter To Fans Filled With Mostly Happy Endings David Letterman's Top 10 Late-Night Memories (Well, Not Really)http://kasu.org/post/david-lettermans-top-10-late-night-memories-well-not-really
What I first noticed about David Letterman was how quickly he ditched the suit.<p>During a taping of the <em>Late Show</em> on Monday at the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan, he put off donning his suit jacket as long as possible, greeting the crowd in just a shirt and tie for a pre-show Q & A session before shrugging on the coat just as recording began.<p>Minutes after the show ended — the big highlight was seeing shock jock Howard Stern try to kiss Letterman on the lips — the host was completely out of his monkey suit.Thu, 14 May 2015 07:37:00 +0000Eric Deggans59358 at http://kasu.orgDavid Letterman's Top 10 Late-Night Memories (Well, Not Really)ABC Brings Muppets Back To Prime Time As News Emerges About Fall Shows http://kasu.org/post/abc-brings-muppets-back-prime-time-news-emerges-about-fall-shows
The long wait for Muppets fans is over: ABC is bringing back the beloved puppets in a prime-time TV series this fall for the first time in nearly 20 years.<p>News of the new show, called <em>The Muppets,</em> dropped this week as TV networks begin calling producers, stars and studio executives in advance of next week's "upfronts" — the annual ritual where broadcasters roll out their fall schedules for advertisers to score advance sales.<p>Staged as glitzy events in such Manhattan venues as Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, the upfront presentations require stars and producers from showsFri, 08 May 2015 19:55:00 +0000Eric Deggans59155 at http://kasu.orgABC Brings Muppets Back To Prime Time As News Emerges About Fall Shows Successful Superhero TV Shows Go Beyond Superpowershttp://kasu.org/post/successful-superhero-tv-shows-go-beyond-superpowers
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Successful+Superhero+TV+Shows+Go+Beyond+Superpowers&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDExNDI3NjUzMDEzNjkzMTgzNTExNDFlYQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>Now to the world of comics and their adaptations on the big and small screens. So what makes a great superhero story?Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:38:00 +0000Eric Deggans58686 at http://kasu.orgClone Drama 'Orphan Black' Returns, As Complex And Complicated As Everhttp://kasu.org/post/clone-drama-orphan-black-returns-complex-and-complicated-ever
For fans of BBC America's majestically complicated drama <em>Orphan Black</em>, this might be the toughest task they face all year: Explaining to newbies what the heck is going on just before the new season starts on Saturday.<p><strong>Spoiler alert: Several plot points from the new season are discussed below</strong><p>The series started with Sarah Manning, a con artist and onetime street urchin, stumbling upon a well-dressed woman who looked exactly like her, crying on a train platform — just before jumping in front of an oncoming train.<p>Turns out, the woman was Sarah's clone; over the shFri, 17 Apr 2015 09:21:00 +0000Eric Deggans58254 at http://kasu.orgClone Drama 'Orphan Black' Returns, As Complex And Complicated As EverThe 'Justified' Finale Brings An End To Another TV Westernhttp://kasu.org/post/end-fxs-excellent-justified-highlights-tvs-vanishing-westerns
Here's why I'm going to miss FX's modern-day Kentucky Western, <em>Justified</em>, so much.<p>In last week's episode, our hero, unflinching U.S.Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:18:00 +0000Eric Deggans58127 at http://kasu.orgThe 'Justified' Finale Brings An End To Another TV Western'Nurse Jackie' Ends As TV's Most Honest Depiction Of Addictionhttp://kasu.org/post/nurse-jackie-ends-tvs-most-honest-depiction-addiction
Even after an accident with a carload full of pills gets her arrested, Nurse Jackie Peyton can't be honest about her addictions. Especially not while explaining her sudden absence to her ex-husband Kevin.<p>"Where were you this past week?" Kevin asks, tensely.<p>"Really, you want to know where I was?" Jackie responds. "I went to a detox program."<p>"Is that what you call jail?" he shoots back. "I was notified of the accident.Sun, 12 Apr 2015 09:37:00 +0000Eric Deggans58042 at http://kasu.org'Nurse Jackie' Ends As TV's Most Honest Depiction Of Addiction'Game Of Thrones' And 'Veep' Anchor HBO's Killer Sunday Lineuphttp://kasu.org/post/game-thrones-and-veep-anchor-hbos-killer-sunday-lineup
<em>(Spoiler alert: Details from the new seasons of several shows follow below.)</em><p>HBO's hit fantasy drama <em>Game of Thrones</em> ended last year with the most shocking death of the season: Tywin Lannister's.<p>Lannister, the most influential power broker in the fictional, medieval-style continent of Westeros, was killed by his son, the tortured alcoholic dwarf Tyrion.<p>When the show returns with a new episode Sunday night, Tyrion is on the run.Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:04:00 +0000Eric Deggans57976 at http://kasu.org'Game Of Thrones' And 'Veep' Anchor HBO's Killer Sunday LineupThe More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same As 'Mad Men' Winds Downhttp://kasu.org/post/more-things-change-more-they-stay-same-mad-men-winds-down
<em>(Be warned: Some spoilers about Sunday's episode follow.)</em><p>If <em>Mad Men</em> has a mission statement, it's probably this: The times may change tremendously, but people rarely do.<p>Even when they really want to.<p>Consider the show's lead character, hotshot ad man Don Draper, a cool, in-control success to those who know him the least.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 09:07:00 +0000Eric Deggans57663 at http://kasu.orgThe More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same As 'Mad Men' Winds DownNew 'Daily Show' Host Faces Criticism Over Questionable Tweetshttp://kasu.org/post/new-daily-show-host-faces-criticism-over-questionable-tweets
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=New+%27Daily+Show%27+Host+Faces+Criticism+Over+Questionable+Tweets&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTQ5MTI3MDEyMjA5MDI1OTZmMjJkOQ001)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>Less than 24 hour after South African comic Trevor Noah was named as the man taking over "The Daily Show" from Jon Stuart, he's already in a load of trouble.Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:46:00 +0000Eric Deggans57555 at http://kasu.orgJames Corden Nods To Talk Show Tradition With CBS's 'Late Late Show'http://kasu.org/post/james-corden-nods-talk-show-tradition-cbs-late-late-show
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBBWO4_wLoY</p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:33:00 +0000Eric Deggans57253 at http://kasu.orgJames Corden Nods To Talk Show Tradition With CBS's 'Late Late Show'In Move From Web To TV, 'Childrens Hospital' Could Set An Examplehttp://kasu.org/post/move-web-tv-childrens-hospital-could-set-example
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=In+Move+From+Web+To+TV%2C+%27Childrens+Hospital%27+Could+Set+An+Example&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODg3MTg0MDEyMTg2NTY3OTI5YTI3ZA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>DON GONYEA, HOST: <p>Tonight one of TVs most eccentric comedies returns for its sixth season - Adult Swim's "Childrens Hospital." The show was co-created by former "Daily Show" correspondent Rob Corddry.Fri, 20 Mar 2015 20:55:00 +0000Eric Deggans57123 at http://kasu.orgDoes Fox's 'Empire' Break Or Bolster Black Stereotypes?http://kasu.org/post/does-foxs-empire-break-or-bolster-black-stereotypes
As its freshman season ends Wednesday night, Fox's hip-hop family drama <em>Empire</em> has emerged as that rarest of birds in the broadcast TV industry: a show where the viewership is always going up.<p>When the series debuted Jan. 7, it drew a respectable 9.8 million viewers, according to the Nielsen company. But then the show about a family-run music empire achieved something few others have ever managed: It increased its audience every week, growing to 14.9 million viewers on March 4.<p>Anchored by powerful performances from Oscar nominees Taraji P.Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:46:00 +0000Eric Deggans57012 at http://kasu.orgDoes Fox's 'Empire' Break Or Bolster Black Stereotypes?Does Success Of HBO's 'The Jinx' Herald New Form Of True-Crime TV?http://kasu.org/post/does-success-hbos-jinx-herald-new-form-true-crime-tv
It was the kind of moment true-crime TV fans live for but almost never get to see: a suspected murderer seeming to confess his guilt while the audience listens in.<p>That bombshell admission aired Sunday at the end of HBO's docu-series <em>The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst</em>, capping a six-part series.Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:04:00 +0000Eric Deggans56926 at http://kasu.orgDoes Success Of HBO's 'The Jinx' Herald New Form Of True-Crime TV?